September 28th 2024.
Emi Martinez, the goalkeeper for Aston Villa, is set to take a break during the upcoming international break. The Football Association of Argentina has confirmed that FIFA has suspended the 32-year-old for two matches. This means that Martinez will not be able to participate in the World Cup qualifying round-robin competition against Venezuela and Bolivia on October 10 and October 15.
According to a statement released by the AFA, FIFA's disciplinary commission has taken this action due to some incidents that occurred during two World Cup qualifying matches against Chile and Colombia earlier this month. The exact nature of these incidents has not been disclosed by the soccer body.
In one incident, after Argentina's 3-0 victory against Chile, Martinez made an obscene gesture by holding the Copa America trophy close to his genitals. He had also done the same after the South American team won the World Cup title in Qatar in 2022. Later, after Argentina's 2-1 defeat against Colombia, he was involved in a physical altercation with a local cameraman in Barranquilla.
The AFA has expressed their disagreement with FIFA's decision, stating that they absolutely disagree with it. Currently, Argentina is leading the South American World Cup qualifying with 18 points after eight games, followed by Colombia and Uruguay.
Martinez's actions have put him in hot water once again. However, this ban could be a blessing in disguise for Aston Villa. The former Arsenal star has played a crucial role in the team's impressive start to the new season under Unai Emery. In fact, according to former Villa No.1 Nigel Spink, Martinez is now among the best goalkeepers in the world.
In an interview with Betano, Spink said, "Emi Martinez is definitely one of the top three goalkeepers in the world, and I would put him at number one. He has all the qualities you look for in a goalkeeper. He has that fiery spark in him, but he is also calm and composed."
Spink also believes that Martinez's experience will be invaluable for Villa in the Champions League. He added, "His experience will be crucial for the team. If he is as much of a leader off the field as he is on it, then he will be able to keep a level head and guide the other players with his experiences."
Having won the Copa America with Argentina, Martinez has a wealth of experience that will benefit his team. Spink is sure that the 32-year-old will be sharing his advice with his teammates and helping them succeed. In conclusion, Spink thanked Arsenal for letting Martinez go and stated that he has all the attributes to lead his team to success.
[This article has been trending online recently and has been generated with AI. Your feed is customized.]
[Generative AI is experimental.]
